Virtual Learning in Elementary
Kaydin sits there slouching with an expression of angst and boredom on his face. He wears his black headset that is plugged into his laptop while attending his virtual class and simultaneously enjoying his quick breakfast that consists of apple juice and sweet bread. As he finishes the meal, he calmly props himself up from the chair to toss the trash away. Although the meal is gone, the smell of sweet apple and warm bread lingers in the air. As he returns to his seat, he finds himself in the same seating position as before.
His eyes and mind are wandering around the white-walled loft he is in and begins to side-eye the computer screen and window he sits by. His legs begin to kick slowly with rhythm as he begins to mentally drift away from his session. The teacher, unaware that Kaydin is daydreaming, continues on with her online session as her voice fades in his mind.
A minute goes by and he unplugs his headphones which helps him freely sway in his office chair. The chair rotates left and right as his teacher reads to the class in an animated tone. His laptop speaker is at full volume as he tries to compete with his grandfather’s television downstairs and the chirps from the morning birds outside. The noises from the room begin to blend in his learning corner like a triad of sounds.
For a moment he pauses and sighs. He stares out the window, leans gently to the sill, and starts peeking through the blinds, catching glimpses of the flying birds outside. The expression on his adolescent face changes from boredom to curiosity. He’s no longer physically or mentally in class. However, the auditory and visual distractions surrounding him are jolted back into him by his teacher’s normal voice. She’s done reading and is asking for participants to summarize the story before their first break. He slowly slouches back down and turns his chair to his screen. He sits there with both hands on the armrest of his chair, waiting for his classmate and teacher to finish talking. When he is given the “okay” to start his 10 min break, Kaydin quickly slams the laptop shut, turns his chair to the stairs, and runs down them with excitement.
